“House of Horrors” parents held on $9 million bail

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, 13 children were found locked up and some shackled to furniture earlier this week in Perris, California. The “House of Horrors” run by David Turpin and his wife Louise Turpin left their children malnourished and in need of immediate medical attention. A 17-year-old daughter of the Turpin’s escaped on January 14, 2018 calling 911 from a deactivated cell phone. Cell phones, even if not in service, are required to allow emergency calls to law enforcement. The brave girl informed police of her captive brothers and sisters, showing them photos. According to police, she appeared to be about 10 years old. After a welfare check on the home revealed disturbing and filthy conditions, police arrested both parents on charges of torture and child endangerment.

The 13 children were taken to local hospitals. While authorities believed that all of the children were under the age of 18 based on their appearance, they in fact ranged in age from 2 to 29 with 7 of them being adults. While neighbors described an odd household, they never imagined what was going on behind closed doors. Bail was set at $9 million each. The couple is scheduled to appear today in the Riverside County Superior Court. According to public records, neither parent has a criminal past but they have filed bankruptcy twice before. The family lived in a relatively affluent neighborhood of newer-tract houses.